A Healthy Relationship

It’s time for operators and health inspectors to stop butting heads. Here’s how the two can work together for the betterment of the industry

As a health inspector, I come at the issue of pool operations from a different perspective than many other aquatics professionals. Some operators may view me as the “bad cop,” someone who makes doing their jobs that much harder.

That’s unfortunate because public pool regulation is an increasing
challenge. There’s less money and manpower to inspect
pools nationwide. As a result, operators have less oversight from
regulatory agencies — and increased liability. So it’s
more important than ever that health inspectors and pool operators
work together to ensure safe, healthy pools for the swimming
public.

Here are some suggestions on how both sides — regulatory agencies and aquatics facilities — can work toward that goal.

1.Support and help create a coalition to develop a national pool code.

Work is in progress right now on this project through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. It needs your support.

Similar efforts over the past several decades have produced a strong Food
and Drug Administration Food Code that is used by most U.S.
jurisdictions and industries for guidance and regulation of food
establishments.

A council of representatives from regulatory agencies around the
country, as well as many industry representatives, support the
Model Aquatic Health Code. Now is the time to get involved and make
your voice be heard. Go to http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/ for more information.

Most states have to play catch-up with rules and regulations
continuously just to stay modestly up to date with developments in
the aquatics industry. Everything from new pool designs, changes in
water use, new equipment, new sanitizers and feed systems to new
electronic lifeguarding/surveillance technologies need to be
addressed. Take a look at existing codes and if they don’t
make sense for the way you operate today, contact local health
officials and work out a plan of action to change the
code(s).

3. Do what you can to get good, clear guidelines into the local
regulations for pool closure criteria and enforcement.

Many rules are not clear about when to close the pool, or they do
not have adequate enforcement authority to back them up. This does
not necessarily mean that regulatory officials need to use them
aggressively. The best use of closure criteria is to give guidance
to pool operators. Waiting for that health inspector to come out
and “apprehend” you is an exercise in liability
exposure. It will catch up with you.

During my inspections, I’ve noted that well-trained “pool
police” would more likely have to close about 50 percent of
the pools inspected. That’s much higher than the
approximately 10 percent reported during the CDC inspection study.
Of course, inspectors would rather help you run a quality pool
operation than close you down. However, we should be able to use
that closure authority when necessary.

4.Support required pool operator training.

Coupled with operator training is the training of health inspectors
to at least the same level or higher as pool operators.

This training is vital to good pool operation and the development of a
professional pool operator work force.

During a survey of pool operators in a region of our state a few years ago,
we found the average tenure of an operator is less than three
months. A follow-up survey statewide showed the average tenure is
only about a year. Without prior training, how can these operators
run safe and healthy pools? How can a health inspector who has not
had the chance to operate a pool become a proficient technical
resource? The answer to these problems? Require training and
certification programs for pool operators and health inspection
staff.

Some organizations and states have addressed these training issues, but
many states have not. They need strong support from the health
departments and the aquatics industry to make these changes
happen.